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That agreement secured the wages and benefits of current employees. But new hires start at roughly 20 per cent less pay and take four years longer to reach the top of the pay scale. New hires also receive a different kind of pension plan, one that transfers more of the risk to employees.

GM has said Canada is the world’s most expensive place to build cars.

It recently announced plans to move future production of the Chevrolet Camaro out of Oshawa to consolidate production of rear-while drive vehicles at Lansing., Mich.

The union believes the move could ultimately cost 1,000 jobs unless the company replaces the Camaro with another vehicle.

Auto industry sales to the U.S., where 80 per cent of Canadian production is destined, has made a dramatic recovery in the past year amid rising consumer confidence and pent up, post recession demand for new vehicles.

However, GM has been under intense pressure to cut costs since accepting a multi-million dollar government bailout in the U.S. and Canada in 2009.

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